The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1887-07-16
THE INDUSTRIAL SOUTH,
Wonderful Development of The Sections
Since 1850.

Wonderful Development of The Section,
Since 1850.
Address of Maj. f.. A. Burke to the Loui :
lana Press Convention ut Lake Char
les, June 1l-What the South lia
Done, and What Remains for Her I.
| DO-The Opportunity of the Southerl
BOY.
| At the annual convention of tn,
Louisiana Press, in session at LAX,
Charles, Maj. T.. A. Burke, of New
Orleans, delivered the address on the
subject Of the "Iudustri.l Suut,," or
Thursday night. Maj. Burke said:
! Ample notice having been given by
the officers of this association 10 per.
! sons invited to address you, it is scarce
ly in order for those who have been
thus complimented to present apologies
at this hour.
I will, however, venture to ask the
Indulgence of the association for pre-
senting in crude form and without the
preparation the question deserves, a
few thoughts bearing upon the subject
kindly allotted to me-
"TIIE INDUSTRIAL SOUTH"
Twenty-Five years ago, during "a
season of my country's peril, I became
associated with an earnest and success.
full effort to promote the industrial de-
velopinent Of the South.
Perhaps i, is largely due to the
events Of that period associated in my
mind, as they have always been, with
tender and holy memorles,j that the
changing scenes and occupations of Il
busy lite become more and more con-
nected with the great question under
discussion.
Necessity created, from the crude
natural resources OF the South, the
means of transportation for our armies
west Of the Mississ ssippi.
Large tanneries, Blacksmith, wheels
wright, carpenter and harness shops
were brought into existence.
An army Of mechanics, white aud
colored, were therein trained to the
service Of their country; but the smoke
of battle had scarcely died away, be-
fore every vestige o: the great work
shops disappeared.
1t seemed as it, with the lowering of
the stars and bars, the South had also
given up all hope of achieving indus
trial independence. Our people at once
returned to their allegiance to the i'm
dustrial North.
The surrender was as complete as
that OF Appomattox.
Every wagon, set of harness, plow, |
agricultural Implement, tub, bucket, |
shoe, hat or article of clothing bought |
by our people paid its tribute to the |
North, swelling the vast sum sent out
Of the South for meat, bread and for
age.
In vain the richly metaled ores crop.
ped invitingly from tho noun ain
,ide.
In vain the dusky motor mbered
meath the Cumberland, the Warrior,
he Cahaba and in the hills of Arkan,
las.
The towering pines of Louisiana
aised their imposing heads untouched;
Ter generous soil of surprising ferti-
ity remained untitled.
We arc told that the financial condi.
ion OF our people and the war Of re-
obstruction, more deadly in its tiuan-
ial effect, retarded our Industrial pros
,ress.
The lack Of industrial training and
he lack Of knowledge of improved
ools, implements 9 and machinery, it is
stood in our way. 1t was
urely not alone ignorance of the fact
hat the South abounded in rich min
rails!
The Spaniards marked every rich
ron hill Of Alabama with piles of
tones. For sixty years the geologis,s
ave heaped up the written records of
he vast mineral wealth of Kentucky,
'cnnessee, Georgia and the Virgin
as. II
North Carolina and Arkansas, it is /
'ell known, have Bessemer ore enough I
, rebuild the navy, fortify the country IS
nd relay every mile of iron on the
always Of the United States with &
teel. Texas was turning out bar iron
'hen the war closed. =
There is not an editor here f.om one
nine localities in North Louisiana ,
nat can walk through his parish with i
ut stumbling over iron ore and min ,
rails that ought to quardruple the as
essed values Off his parish when t
nown to the world r
1t will scarcely satisfy history to as
lme that the cause enumerated fully I
'stify our long tethargy respecting in ,
ustrial progress. r
Our ports were closed, TIE home 8
larts of commerce were not open to us, +
nannels of instruction were not availa- I
le, and yet, east and west of the =
Mississippi industrial works were in Z